Learning Bike Mechanics

[kd80]

Hi all,

While I understand that mechanics isn't something that can be fully documented, and it is about putting it into practice, I would like to know if there are general books that I can buy?

I have a Haynes manual which is good for servicing the bike, and taking it apart; it is not so good for fault finding nor knowing where to look to locate faults. So I would like a general book (that I can use when I eventually replace my SV) that can be used to determine problems.

In particular, I was looking at Haynes' Motorcycle Basics Techbook: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Basics-Techbook-Haynes-Techbooks/dp/185960515X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269202833&sr=1-1. Has anyone had experience with this? I was also looking at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Workshop-Practice-Techbook-Shoemark/dp/1859604706/ref=pd_rhf_shvl_2 but I cannot tell what one I need, what one is more suitable for my needs or what? :S

I am hessitant when taking my bike apart in case I break something or cannot get something back on :mad:. Some people I know just tear the their pride and joy apart without any prior experience :O. Yet they seem to fit everything back together :S

Cheers all
Kelvin

[Sean_C]

That's a good for the theory side of things. There's nothing that'll ever compare to getting your hands dirty though.

Buy an old engine to take apart, or some shagged carbs if you don't want to risk breaking yours ;)

[kd80]

That's a good for the theory side of things. There's nothing that'll ever compare to getting your hands dirty though.

Buy an old engine to take apart, or some shagged carbs if you don't want to risk breaking yours ;)

Brilliant idea ;). How about general problem solving, or figuring out something is wrong or faulty? Say, Joe Bloggs comes to me because his engine is turning over but it will not start.

Right now, I would not have a clue. The only place that I *could* check is perhaps the fuel pipe from the tank to the carburettors since I made that mistake by not vacuuming that pipe when disconnecting it :D

But, going back to Joe Blogg's problem... right now I would not have a clue where to start :confused:

cheers again!

[Sean_C]

To fault find like that you need to know how things work. Think of the fire triangle, the three elements you need for a fire. If there's no fire, one (or more) of the elements are missing. Its the same logic. That book'll get you started, and if you're a bit of a geek or just generally curious, many an hour can be spent on the internet reading about how stuff works ;)

[Philbo]

If you can afford to buy a second hand engine to muck about with you could consider a basic evening class. I went to one in Clydebank college, I think it cost £50 for 10 or 12 weeks of "Basic motorcycle maintenance". It taught you all the basics, and you essentially serviced your own bike over the term of the course as well as getting a poke and a play with various bike bits from the college.

They also done an "Advanced motorcycle maintenance" course, same sort of price and duration. They put you into small groups of 2 or 3 and guided you through removing, stripping, repairing, re-building, and re-fitting engines from some old bikes they had. Great fun, and good value.